BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR BCS MEMBERS

Version 8 last reviewed and approved by Trustee Board 8 June 2022

Introduction
As a professional body, the British Computer Society (known as BCS, the Chartered
Institute for IT), has a responsibility to set rules and professional standards to direct the
behaviour of its members in professional matters. It is expected that these rules and
professional standards will be higher than those established by the general law and that
they will be enforced through disciplinary action which can result in expulsion from
membership.
Members are expected to exercise their own judgement (which should be made in such
a way as to be reasonably justified) to meet the requirements of the code and seek
advice if in doubt.
Appendix 1 to the code sets examples of interpretation of the tenets of professional
conduct and form part of this Code of Conduct.

Breaches of the Code of Conduct

If a member of BCS should know of, or become aware of, any breach of this Code of
Conduct by another member they are under an obligation to notify BCS immediately.
Breaches of the Code of Conduct may also be brought to the attention of BCS by others
who are not members of BCS.
Any breach of the Code of Conduct brought to the attention of BCS, or of which BCS
becomes aware, will be considered under the Institute’s disciplinary procedures.

Correspondence in connection with this Code of Conduct should be directed to:

Customer Service team

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT,
3 Newbridge Square
Swindon
SN1 1BY

Email: custsupport@bcs.uk

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BCS CODE OF CONDUCT

This Code of Conduct:

• sets out the professional standards required by BCS as a condition of membership.
• applies to all members, irrespective of their membership grade, the role they fulfil, or
the jurisdiction where they are employed or discharge their contractual obligations.
• governs the conduct of the individual, not the nature of the business or ethics of any
Relevant Authority*.

1. Public Interest
You shall:
a. have due regard for public health, privacy, security and wellbeing of others and
the environment.
b. have due regard for the legitimate rights of Third Parties.
c. conduct your professional activities without discrimination on the grounds of sex,
sexual orientation, marital status, nationality, colour, race, ethnic origin, religion,
age or disability, or of any other condition or requirement.
d. promote equal access to the benefits of IT and seek to promote the inclusion of
all sectors in society wherever opportunities arise.

2. Professional Competence and Integrity

You shall:
a. only undertake to do work or provide a service that is within your professional
competence.
b. NOT claim any level of competence that you do not possess.
c. develop your professional knowledge, skills and competence on a continuing
basis, maintaining awareness of technological developments, procedures, and
standards that are relevant to your field.
d. ensure that you have the knowledge and understanding of Legislation* and that
you comply with such Legislation, in carrying out your professional
responsibilities.
e. respect and value alternative viewpoints and, seek, accept and offer honest
criticisms of work.
f. avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or
malicious or negligent action or inaction.
g. reject and will not make any offer of bribery or unethical inducement.

3. Duty to Relevant Authority

You shall:
a. carry out your professional responsibilities with due care and diligence in
accordance with the Relevant Authority’s requirements whilst exercising your
professional judgement at all times.
b. seek to avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest between you
and your Relevant Authority.
c. accept professional responsibility for your work and for the work of colleagues
who are defined in a given context as working under your supervision.
d. NOT disclose or authorise to be disclosed, or use for personal gain, or to benefit
a third party, confidential information except with the permission of your Relevant
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 Authority, or as required by Legislation.
e. NOT misrepresent or withhold information on the performance of products,
systems or services (unless lawfully bound by a duty of confidentiality not to
disclose such information), or take advantage of the lack of relevant knowledge or
inexperience of others.

4. Duty to the Profession

You shall:
a. accept your personal duty to uphold the reputation of the profession and not take
any action which could bring the profession into disrepute.
b. seek to improve professional standards through participation in their
development, use and enforcement.
c. uphold the reputation and good standing of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
d. act with integrity and respect in your professional relationships with all members
of BCS and with members of other professions with whom you work in a
professional capacity.
e. encourage and support fellow members in their professional development.

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APPENDIX 1
Interpretation of the BCS Code of Conduct
The explanatory notes below are offered for guidance only. The examples are not, and
not intended to be, exhaustive.
If you are in a leadership position and especially if you hold an executive position you are
expected to:

• encourage and facilitate colleagues to develop as professionals.

• seek to ensure that no one is penalised for raising areas of concern or conflicts of
interest.
• encourage colleagues to follow this code of conduct.

Definitions:
Legislation
The term “Legislation” means any applicable laws, statutes and regulations.
Third Parties
The term “Third Parties” includes any person or organisation that might be affected by
your activities in your professional capacity, irrespective of whether they are directly
aware or involved in those activities.
Relevant Authority
The term “Relevant Authority” in this document is used to identify the person(s) or
organisation(s) which has/have authority over the activity of individuals in their
professional capacity. For practising BCS members this is normally an employer or
client. For student members, this is normally an academic institution.
Public Interest
• Acting in the public interest may be governed by Legislation.
• Legitimate rights of third parties include protecting personal identifiable data to prevent
unlawful disclosure and identity theft, and also respect for copyright, patents and other
intellectual property.
• Assess the requirement for, and where necessary, hold appropriate indemnity
insurance.

Professional Competence and Integrity

• All members are required to undertake professional development activities as a
condition of membership. Continuing professional development activities should
broaden your knowledge of the IT profession and maintain your competence in your
area of specialism.
• You should seek out and observe good practice exemplified by rules, standards,
conventions or protocols that are relevant in your area of specialism.
• You should only claim current competence where you can demonstrate you have
the required expertise e.g. through recognised competencies, qualifications or
experience.
• Legislation that may apply in carrying out your professional responsibilities might
include that applicable to:
o your Relevant Authority.
o the geographic area in which you are carrying out your professional
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 responsibilities.
o the geographic area in which your responsibilities will be discharged.
You may need to seek guidance from your Relevant Authority.

• Where you are leading a first of kind project, you will ensure that you make use
of peer review and support where appropriate.

Duty to Relevant Authority

• Exercising of your professional judgement:
o Where there is conflict between full and committed compliance with the
Relevant Authority’s instructions and the independent and considered
exercise of your professional judgement, you will indicate the likely risks
and consequences.
o If any conflict is likely to occur or be seen by a third party as likely to occur
you will make full and immediate disclosure to your Relevant Authority.
o If for any reason you are unable to complete any assigned tasks in
accordance with their requirements (e.g. on time or within budget) you will
advise the Relevant Authority as soon as practicable.

Duty to the Profession

• As a member of BCS you have a responsibility to:
o share knowledge and understanding of IT and support inclusion of every sector
of society.
o encourage and support fellow members in their professional development.
o Support a colleague or any other person to whom they have a duty of care who in
good faith raises any concern about a danger, risk, malpractice or wrongdoing
which affects others (blows the whistle).

• In circumstances where a member is also a member of another professional

body the clauses of any other applicable code of conduct cannot be employed to
diminish or negate the clauses of the BCS Code of Conduct.
• You will not make any statement on behalf of BCS or purport to represent BCS
through any public medium, including digital social media, unless authorised to do so
by BCS.

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